Virtual reality treatment of claustrophobia: a case report

Behav Res Ther. 1998 Feb;36(2):239-46. doi: 10.1016/s0005-7967(97)10006-7.

Abstract

The efficacy of a treatment for claustrophobia using only Virtual Reality (VR) exposure was examined. The subject was a 43-year-old female who suffered from clinically significant distress and impairment and sought psychological therapy. Eight individual VR graded exposure sessions were conducted. All self-report measures were reduced following VR exposure and were maintained at one month follow-up. The necessity of a theoretical framework for this new medium for exposure therapy is discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal
  • Desensitization, Psychologic / methods*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Phobic Disorders / therapy*
  • User-Computer Interface*